Across California, CA | News | 15h. The work of the Safety Auditor was overseen by a Los Angeles Superior Court judge and approved prior to use of MHF at the refinery.. The fire, possibly triggered by an explosion that has not yet been confirmed, was reported at 6 a.m. Saturday in the plants crude oil unit, said Torrance Assistant Fire Chief Steve Treskes. The refinery has been under constant scrutiny since the explosion as small fires and flare ups have been reported since and raised concern among residents living nearby. Torrance officials said there was no chemical release and a citywide shelter-in-place order is not necessary, but those near the site should keep windows closed. The blast caused serious property damage to the refinery and scattered catalyst dust up to a mile away from the facility into the nearby community. I urge SCAQMD to act with urgency, said the South Bay Democrat. The fiercest local opponent of MHF is the Torrance Refinery Action Alliance. 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Congressman Ted Lieu (D-Los Angeles County) issued the following statement on Saturday's fire: Federal investigators in January said a failure to follow safety guidelines was partly to blame for the blast and that the aftermath could have been "catastrophic" had the equipment hit the unit housing MHF. An ExxonMobil refinery explosion in Torrance injured two, caused a 1.7 magnitude shake and portends pain at the pumps. Both the PBF and Valero refineries are situated in densely populated areas of the South Bay: About 245,000 people live within three miles of the Torrance refinery and another 153,000 live within that same distance of Valeros refinery, AQMD said. A buildup of natural gas caused the explosion that leveled a Torrance home, damaged scores of others and rained glass, stucco and other debris over a two-block area, investigators said. The CSBs report emphasizes that it is critical that hydrocarbons do not flow into the air side of the FCC unit, as this can create an explosive atmosphere. Three dozen firefighters knocked down the blaze within a half-hour. ExxonMobil Refinery Explosion Injures Two, Rains Ash Upon Neighborhood - Redondo Beach, CA - The blast at the Torrance refinery could be seen for miles and caused 1.7 magnitude ground-shaking. Explosion at Torrance refinery - Los Angeles Times SUBSCRIBE Copyright 2022, Los Angeles Times | Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | CA Notice of Collection | Do Not Sell My Personal. And it directs L.A. County to support any new legislation that would help phase out MHF. Here's your go-to source for today's LA news. The machines are responsible for reducing ammonia and particulate emissions in a plant to comply with environmental regulations. No injuries were reported and there were no evacuations. Fill out the form below for a free case review with one of our experienced personal injury lawyers. The additive does this by ensuring the chemical used as a liquid during refining doesnt turn into a gas. PBF Energy, which now owns the Torrance Refining Co. refinery, denied that an explosion occurred. "Our main concern is for the safety of our employees and our neighbors.". No injuries were reported, and the fire did not impact anything offsite. Still, the explosion led to further safety measures, some the refineries put in voluntarily and others they did so essentially at the behest of government agencies. 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The Board does not issue citations or fines but does make safety recommendations to plants, industry organizations, labor groups, and regulatory agencies such as OSHA and EPA. A powerful blast at an ExxonMobil oil refinery rocked Torrance, California, on Wednesday. But at the time, theyd never heard of MHF and didnt think much of it. But the proposed ban on MHF is far from the first cost passed onto consumers: The 2015 explosion, according to the CSB, caused the refinery to run at limited capacity for more than a year and raised gas prices in California costing drivers in the state an estimated $2.4 billion. Flares from the stack, part of a safety relief valve system, are part of normal operations that occasionally produce a rumbling sound, like distant thunder, caused by turbulent mixing of vapors. Its unacceptable we were put in harms way, said Daphne Wong, who added that she does not believe the official line that Torrance is a safe community. One person remained hospitalized with a knee injury. Paige Austin, Patch Staff. Gavin Newsom to call for an investigation into the use of modified hydrofluoric acid at the facility, now operated by Torrance Refining Co., as well as by Valeros Wilmington refinery. Torrance firefighters . Some community members do not believe that the company did not enough to respond to the emergency. And the incident was avoidable, CSB said: Mismanagement and improper safety protocols put in place by then-owner ExxonMobil who sold the refinery to PBF Energy shortly after the incident made the explosion likely. While the unit where the blast occurred was ordered shut down, the rest of the refinery is still in operation. They have lived in a neighborhood directly adjacent to the Torrance refinery for 48 years. Environmentalists and concerned residents say MHF could prove catastrophic if the chemical were to escape, pointing to its corrosivity and studies that show its ability to travel beyond a refinerys footprint. That update was completed last year as well. People, Donna Heise said, are becoming more aware if nothing else over the last seven years.. Since the February 2015 explosion, the refinery has experienced multiple incidents. The blast caused serious property damage to the refinery and scattered catalyst dust up to a mile away from the facility into the nearby community. As a result, when the valve was needed during an emergency, it did not work as intended, and hydrocarbons were able to reach an ignition source. CSB investigations look into all aspects of chemical accidents, including physical causes such as equipment failure as well as inadequacies in regulations, industry standards, and safety management systems. In September, the South Coast Air Quality Management District governing board voted instead to accept a voluntary oil industry pledge to enhance safety measures. May 3, 2017, Torrance, CA, -- Today, the U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) released its final report into the February 18, 2015, explosion at the ExxonMobil refinery in Torrance, California. 2022 Zehl & Associates Injury & Accident Lawyers. As a result, unraveling the debates complexities remains challenging. Investigators were trying to determine the cause of the blast, which occurred shortly before 9 a.m. PST . The Torrance refinery has completed all safety enhancements and Valero has begun installation of some elements of safety measures structures and additional implementation is ongoing, said SCAQMD spokesperson Nahal Mogharabi in an email. Investigators are trying to determine what caused the explosion at a Torrance oil refinery that sent four workers to the hospital. / KCAL News. Gen. Xavier Becerras office investigate how the Torrance and Wilmington refineries are able to legally operate using hydrofluoric acid. Copyright 2023 KABC Television, LLC. torrance News Caught on video: Car-to-car shooting on 91 Freeway Video shows a shooting between people in two cars traveling on the freeway in the Long Beach area. If you're interested in joining our team, you can apply for a position here. Hahns February motion also asks the AQMDs refinery committee to provide an update on the status of safety improvements listed in the refineries proffers. The 2015 explosion, according to the CSB, caused the refinery to run at limited capacity for more than a year and raised gas prices in California costing drivers in the state an estimated $2.4. Posted Wed, Feb 18, 2015 at 5:20 pm PT. North Torrance resident Daphne Wong, her husband, Eng, and their three children, ages 5 to 9, all walked to the refinery together despite the rain. And Torrance receives about $7.5 million annually in utility user taxes from the refinerys operation. We interviewed our tech expert, Jaime Vazquez, to learn more about accessible smart home devices. Get Los Angeles's latest local news on crime, entertainment, weather, schools, COVID, cost of living and more. Hire a Houston personal injury lawyer with a proven track record. Overturned gas tanker explodes, killing 1 person, Texas mom in custody after 5 of her kids were stabbed, leaving 3 dead, Ja Morant says he'll get help after video shows apparent gun. Two others sustained minor injuries. Torrance fire Capt. CSB Releases Final Report into 2015 Explosion at ExxonMobil Refinery in Torrance, California, Drivers of Critical Chemical Safety Change, Process Safety Management for the 21st Century, Emergency Planning and Response (Preparedness), Website design & development by Americaneagle.com. "It was like a loud sonic boom. Several contractors were injured in the Feb. 18, 2015, blast that shut down the refinery for more than a year, leading to soaring gas prices in Southern California. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Three were treated and released. Eight workers were decontaminated at the scene. If your child will play baseball or softball this spring, youll need to stock up on appropriate clothing and equipment. CSB Chairperson Vanessa Allen Sutherland said, This explosion and near miss should not have happened, and likely would not have happened, had a more robust process safety management system been in place. Chevron, for example, successfully converted its Salt Lake City refinery from HF to a new alkylation technology last year. The explosion was mostly contained to two of the buildings units, with each sustaining significant damage. PBF, for its part, has repeatedly said concerns from local groups against MHF were unwarranted. The CSB investigation also discovered that a large piece of debris from the explosion narrowly missed hitting a tank containing tens of thousands of pounds of modified hydrofluoric acid, or MHF. On a day when activists marked the two-year anniversary of an explosion that rocked the then-ExxonMobil refinery and showered neighborhoods with industrial debris, another fire erupted at the troubled Torrance plant early Saturday. 2018 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. So far though, it doesn't appear as if any serious damage or injuries have occurred, barring reported explosions in Torrance. 1750 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Suite 910 | Washington, DC 20006. Before joining the newsroom in 2016, she was a general assignment reporter for the Philadelphia Inquirer, Daily News and Philly.com. Zehl & Associates is always looking for smart, hardworking and talented personal injury attorneys and staff to join our team. The CSB notes that it is vital to ensure that safety critical equipment can successfully carry out its intended function. A reaction between hydrocarbons and catalyst takes place in what is known as the hydrocarbon side of the FCC unit. But in the years since the 2015 explosion, residents have continued decrying MHF. The fire, possibly triggered by an explosion that has not yet been confirmed, was reported at 6 a.m. Saturday in the plant's crude oil unit, said Torrance Assistant Fire Chief Steve Treskes. My first reaction was, this doesn't sound good, this doesn't look good. U.S. Chemical Safety Board. It was unclear what caused the fire. ExxonMobil was fined more than $500 million for workplace violations related to the blast. Although there are alternative alkylation technologies under development, Lafayette said, they still need to be proven to be safe, mechanically reliable, and commercially viable at the scale of the Torrance Alkylation Unit.. "Emergency procedures have been activated to address the incident, and employees are working with the appropriate agencies," a statement by the ExxonMobil Torrance Refinery said. The explosion on Feb. 18, 2015, was described by federal regulators as a serious near miss.. The explosion filled surrounding neighborhoods with ash, fiberglass, and glass wool. You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times. A Redondo Beach resident told NBC4 windows rattled at his house, about five miles from the refinery. Community members who may have been impacted by the explosion can call the ExxonMobil claims hotline at 844-631-2539. Times staff writer Tony Barboza contributed to this report. Four were taken to hospitals. Si no quieres que nosotros ni nuestros socios utilicemos cookies y datos personales para estos propsitos adicionales, haz clic en Rechazar todo. In working with inherently dangerous products, it is critical to conduct a robust risk management analysis with the intent of continually safety improvement.. California Occupational Safety and Health officials were at the site investigating. Living in such close proximity to the refinery, Donna Heise said, makes it hard for the couple to ignore the chemicals potential dangers. Puedes cambiar tus opciones en cualquier momento haciendo clic en el enlace Panel de control de privacidad de nuestros sitios y aplicaciones. Instead, if a leak occurred, a ground-hugging liquid cloud would form, according to a 2018 report from the Torrance refinery defending its use of the chemical. The CSB determined that on the day of the incident a slide valve that acted as a barrier failed. The state could potentially lose thousands of jobs, and it could result in higher gasoline prices at the pump for California residents, businesses, and government, Californians for a Sustainable Economy an association representing hundreds of local businesses wrote in opposition to the ban. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. In 2017, the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board published a 73-page report on the explosion. Residents reported shaking normally associated with earthquakes throughout the South Bay area. Robert Millea said he couldnt immediately confirm whether an explosion actually occurred, only that one was reported. Minor injuries were reported after the explosion ripped apart structures at the oil refinery and shook homes for miles around the blast site in southern Los Angeles County. Had we known then what we know now, Cliff Heise said, we wouldve run, not walked home.. Those calls for a ban remain. This explosion and near miss should not have happened, and likely would not have happened, had a more robust process safety management system been in place, then-CSB Chairwoman Vanessa Allen Sutherland said in a statement at the time. TORRANCE (CBSLA) Firefighters say four people have been injured in a reported explosion at an apartment complex in Torrance. Im absolutely appalled, said Torrance teacher Julie Stoll, referring to the lack of support from Torrance officials. The CSBs report concludes that the unit was operating without proper procedures., MHF was the subject of a thorough technology review by a court-appointed Safety Advisor with input from the City of Torrance, Gesuina Lafayette, PBFs community relations advisor said in a recent email. Those safety enhancements, Lafayette said, include installing a new protective steel structure, water mitigation dome and curtain, an enhanced HF/MHF detection system, and additional water mitigation monitors. There was a "large fire explosion" at the ExxonMobil Torrance Refinery in Southern California on Wednesday morning, according to the Torrance Police Department. The explosion, which happened . Those safety advances, however, have come since the 2015 explosion and a harsh assessment by federal investigators. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Cuando utilizas nuestros sitios y aplicaciones, usamos. The 2015 explosion, according to the CSB, caused the refinery to run at limited capacity for more than a year and raised gas prices in California costing drivers in the state an estimated $2.4. More Stories Drone helps. When you think about it, she said, it makes you not want to sleep at night.. The refineries are required to provide quarterly updates to the agency.. First published on April 8, 2018 / 2:50 PM. By then, the husband said, theyd been living in the city long enough to know exactly what the sound was. They claim nothing has been done, she added, without any proof, other than their beliefs, which are incorrect and misleading.. Edited by Rachel Barnes. TORRANCE (CBSLA) Firefighters say four people have been injured in a reported explosion at an apartment complex in Torrance. If that was the case, we wouldnt have seen another explosion today, she added. Let's get out of here. Some said they heard one of the workers may have turned on the gas inside one of the apartments before it was completely ready. The explosion sent ash raining down on vehicles parked near the sprawling 750-acre site and caused what one worker described as intense shaking. The investigation of the Torrance explosion by the U.S. Chemical Safety Board revealed that a piece of equipment nearly crashed into a tank holding tens of thousands of pounds of modified hydrofluoric acid a highly toxic chemical used to make high-octane gasoline. A group of activists on Saturday marked the fifth anniversary of an explosion at the Exxon Mobil refinery in Torrance that injured four workers and prompted continuing concerns about the potential for an even more catastrophic incident and the release of toxic chemicals and fumes into local communities. The refineries arent going to eat that cost, William Burke, former chairman of the SCAQMDs governing board said in a previous interview. The blast caused serious property damage to the refinery and scattered catalyst dust up to a mile away from the facility into the nearby community. Activists held an event Saturday to mark the fifth anniversary of the explosion at the Exxon Mobil refinery in Torrance that injured four workers. The rule would have required a gradual phase-out of MHF usage at both refineries, requiring an alternative catalyst, such as sulfuric acid. Torrance firefighters responded to the 23500 block of Anza Avenue just before 1:20 p.m. Sunday. The Torrance Police Department issued an alert for the city, notifying them that the Torrance ExxonMobil Refinery had an explosion and fire early Saturday morning. The cause of the accident was not immediately known, but it was believed to be caused by over pressurization in the plants electrostatic precipitators. Torrance school officials confirmed that staff and students sheltered in place due to possible air quality issues. in communication and M.S. In February, a large explosion occurred at ExxonMobils refinery in Torrance, California. The LA County Department of Public Health and former California Attorney General Xavier Becerra followed suit. Member-Designated Transportation Projects, Fire erupts at Torrance refinery just hours before protest rally, announced safety rally at the refinery PBF had planned to hold for workers as a counterpoint to the demonstration, Manhattan Beach Office (By Appointment Only). Refinery spokeswoman Betsy Brien said the fire was quickly extinguished and the Del Amo Boulevard barriers were activated to close the road under an abundance of caution.. The 2015 explosion at the Torrance Refinery was bad, but it easily could have been catastrophic, Hahn said in a press release. Explosion reported in Torrance Fire department vehicles will patrol Los Angeles with vehicles and helicopters to identify the damage or emergency needs, it was reported. All rights reserved. There was no sign of an announced safety rally at the refinery PBF had planned to hold for workers as a counterpoint to the demonstration so they could reflect upon the (2015) incident.. Four people were injured in an explosion at an apartment building in Torrance Sunday afternoon, officials said. After protests and intensified public pressure from such activists as the Heises mounted in 2017, the AQMDs Proposed Rule 1410 became a key focus of the agencys Governing Board. "I kind of figured we had an earthquake, then I realized, living by the factory for all those years, they had a problem with the factory.". Officials were not aware of their exact conditions, but witnesses said some were seriously hurt. 46,739 visits in the last 30 days. Watch: Explosion reported at ExxonMobil refinery in California - CBS News State of the Union CBS News App Ukraine Crisis COVID Pandemic CBS News Live Managing Your Money Essentials Shopping. It provides 362 jobs around $30 million in wages in Torrance, according to its website. The governors office confirmed they received the request, but declined further comment. There was also minor damage to two adjoining apartments, according to Millea. The explosion also spurred a movement among residents to oppose MHF. Unfortunately, ExxonMobil, the owner-operator of the refinery at the time of the accident, did not respond to the CSBs requests for information detailing safeguards to prevent or mitigate a release of MHF, and therefore the agency was unable to fully explore this topic in its final report. Feb . When released, the chemical can form a deadly, ground-hugging cloud that, in the event of a major leak, could have caused serious injury or death to many community members, according to the agency. Refinery officials, though, say MHF was specifically designed to be safer than its non-modified original hydrofluoric acid and has been reviewed by experts and deemed the best catalyst for the refining process. Its been a few years now, and there has been very little progress.. Those improvements were completed in 2021 and are now in service, Lafayette said. In 2004, the South Coast Air Quality Management District said much the same in an environmental analysis the agency did when Valero introduced MHF at its Wilmington refinery. Para obtener ms informacin sobre cmo utilizamos tus datos personales, consulta nuestra Poltica de privacidad y Poltica de cookies. In the late 1980s, ExxonMobil and Phillips 66 jointly created modified hydrofluoric acid, which boasts a chemical additive that, when used in high enough concentrations, can prevent the poisonous chemical from dispersing. Were also the only law firm in the country thats currently representing over 65 of the workers who were injured in the Williams Geismar explosion, as well as 3 of the 4 workers who were tragically killed in the October 2015 Williams explosion in Gibson, Louisiana. The building has been undergoing renovations for some time, and the victims are believed to be remodelers working in one of the involved units, neighbors said. The crowd gathered at 10 a.m. at Columbia Park on 190th Street, cheering the remarks of Lieu, Assemblyman Al Muratsuchi and other speakers, before marching the short distance to the refinery. In the past 5 years alone, our Plant Explosion Lawyers have Won over $1 Billion for workers who were seriously injured and burned in refinery and industrial accidents, represented workers in connection with every major plant and refinery explosion in recent history, and recovered record-setting verdicts and settlements against the largest oil and gas companies in the world, including ExxonMobil, Williams, Chevron, and ConocoPhillips. Numerous nearby residents complained about the air quality following the blast. Refineries are not supposed to have explosions. Having affordable fuel that is readily available is a vital part of the California economy.. The Torrance refinery, however, also contributes significantly to the citys economy. But we had no idea about the danger.. The incident was reported around 1:15 p.m. on the 23500 block of Anza Avenue, just . Three of them were taken to a nearby hospital, authorities said, after earlier indicating all four had been transported. In its final report, the CSB describes multiple gaps in the refinerys process safety management system, allowing for the operation of the FCC unit without pre-established safe operating limits and criteria for a shut down. A five-story processing unit had burst open, spewing industrial ash over a mile away that some mistook for snow and propelling a 40-ton hunk of equipment into the air. Hours after an explosion ripped through a Torrance refinery, residents for miles around continue to grapple with ash, a gas odor and concerns over poor air quality while inspectors confirmed that a filtration device was the source of the blast. The explosion filled surrounding neighborhoods with ash, fiberglass, and glass wool. By Nichola Groom TORRANCE, Calif. (Reuters) - An explosion and fire ripped through a gasoline processing unit at an Exxon Mobil refinery in Torrance, California, near Los Angeles on Wednesday, slightly injuring four workers and shattering windows of surrounding buildings, authorities said. We need to ban MHF as soon as possible. ET), but there was no . TORRANCE, CALIFORNIA Just before 9 a.m. on February 18, the ExxonMobil refinery in Torrance, California exploded, shaking the surrounding community with the force of a 1.7 magnitude earthquake, and sending a quarter ton of sulfur oxide gas into the atmosphere. Fire crews knocked down the blaze within 30 minutes. Its unclear what effect these new calls to action will have on the refineries MHF usage. The cause of the explosion is under investigation. The SCAQMD didnt comment on Hahns request for the organization to reexamine the viability of alternative technologies to MHF, some of which may be more commercially available than they were at the time of the vote. Other groups including the refinerys unions and local businesses feared the potential economic fallout if the refineries were forced to transition to a safer alternative.
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